MLB Player News

Fulmer (0-5) took the loss against the Blue Jays on Saturday, allowing two runs on seven hits and two walks with eight strikeouts over six innings.

Fulmer's eight punchouts tied a season high, but he unfortunately matched up against Bowden Francis who didn't allow a hit until the ninth inning. While Fulmer hasn't routinely worked deep into games, the 30-year-old has allowed three earned runs or fewer in seven of eight starts since being moved into the rotation July 14. On the season, he owns a 4.15 ERA, 1.31 WHIP and 79:37 K:BB across 80.1 innings and lines up to face the Mariners at home next week.

Francis (7-3) earned the win against the Angels on Saturday, allowing one run on one hit and three walks with 12 strikeouts over eight innings.

Francis carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning before Taylor Ward ended his outing with a solo home run. Francis threw a career-high 117 pitches, including a ridiculous 84 strikes, and registered double-digit punchouts for the first time ever. The 28-year-old has now completed at least seven innings in three consecutive outings while yielding just five total hits and two earned runs in that span. On the year, he owns a 4.02 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 70:19 K:BB across 71.2 innings and will try to keep the good times rolling against the Red Sox next week.

Sborz (shoulder) began a rehab assignment with Double-A Frisco on Saturday.

Sborz has been on the injured list since Aug. 11 due to right shoulder fatigue. It's unclear how many appearances the Rangers want the 30-year-old to make before they activate him off the IL, though a return before the end of the month hasn't yet been ruled out.

Contreras (2-3) took the loss and blew a save against the Blue Jays on Friday, allowing two runs on two hits without retiring a batter.

With the Angels up by a run in the eighth inning, manager Ron Washington turned to Ben Joyce -- who has been closing of late -- to face the heart of Toronto's order. Joyce got the job done, leaving Contreras to try to follow suit in the ninth. The latter couldn't close things out, however, as he gave up back-to-back solo homers to Joey Loperfido and Addison Barger to take the defeat. Contreras had been pitching well coming into Friday, allowing just one earned run and posting a 16:4 K:BB over his prior 14 frames.

The Astros optioned Dubin to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Dubin fired 8.1 scoreless frames and struck out nine batters after returning to the Astros' bullpen July 30. However, he will be forced back to the minors following the return of Kaleb Ort, who returned from the paternity list Saturday. If Dubin is able to keep his hot streak alive in the minors, he figures to have a good chance of returning to Houston before the end of the year.

The Astros reinstated Ort from the paternity list Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

After spending the three-day maximum away from the team following the birth of his child, Ort will now return to the Astros' bullpen. In order to make room on the roster, Shawn Dubin was optioned to Triple-A Sugar Land.

The Astros optioned Martinez to Triple-A Sugar Land on Saturday, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Martinez will be squeezed out of the Astros' bullpen in order to make room for Hector Neris, who signed with the team Thursday. With a 3.04 ERA and 1.21 WHIP through 50.1 innings, the 29-year-old Martinez remains a candidate to return to Houston's bullpen down the stretch.

The Athletics optioned Jimenez to Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday.

Jimenez has given up six earned runs in two innings over his last two appearances, so the A's will now send him to Triple-A in order to get back on track. Hogan Harris was recalled from Las Vegas to fill the open spot on Oakland's pitching staff.

Snider (3-2) got the extra-inning win over the Giants on Friday, firing a scoreless 10th inning during which he issued an intentional walk and recorded two strikeouts.

Snider was called on to preserve a 5-5 tie in the 10th after Andres Munoz had struck out the side in the ninth, and the former responded with a crisp showing of his own. The right-hander lowered his season ERA to a stellar 0.98 with what was his 13th consecutive appearance without surrendering an earned run, and he now has four multi-strikeout tallies in his last nine trips to the mound.

The Twins designated Okert for assignment Saturday, Betsy Helfand of the St. Paul Pioneer Press reports.

Okert will lose his spot in the Twins' bullpen after posting a 5.09 ERA and 1.50 WHIP across 35.1 innings on the season. Scott Blewett was promoted from Triple-A St. Paul to fill the open roster spot.